Police report on unlawful warrant for Yameen's arrest false, affirms probe

Maldives Police Service has launched a serious probe into an alleged police investigation report regarding former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom’s arrest.

According to rumors, the alleged report outlines the police investigation into employing an unlawful court warrant for Yameen’s arrest.

Police on Tuesday said the said report, currently spreading across various social media channels, was a forged document.

Upon inspection, police discovered the document header on the alleged report differed from the authority’s standard header. Moreover, the purported signature of then Acting Commissioner of Police, Abdulla Nawaz, was actually that of police Spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Ahmed Shifan, police statement read.

“This is a doctored report using forgery of the format used in the official documents of this authority, inclusive of the signatures of its senior officials and falsified statements,” the statement added.

While police have affirmed launching a serious probe into the matter, it urged public to refrain from spreading misinformation aimed at creating public discord and unrest.

Meanwhile, Yameen and his allies have spoken about the said report. They had spoken about some of the statements in the alleged report made towards incumbent President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.

The unlawful court warrant was issued on February 7, 2016 for the arrest of the former President. Police had conducted an investigation on the case.

The warrant was issued from Alifu Dhaalu atoll Maamigili magistrate court, which fell under the authority of former Prosecutor General Muhuthaz Muhsin. Muhsin was arrested regarding the warrant in 2016, and sentenced to jail in the following year but was released in 2018 with regime change.

After Muhsin was appointed as the President’s Criminal Justice Advisor in the current administration, he was transferred to Foreign Affairs Ministry as its state minister later.

Besides Muhsin, the Chief Magistrate of Maamigili Court, Ahmed Nihan was arrested, and subsequently convicted of a 17-year jail sentence for charges of conspiracy to, and committing an act of terrorism, but he too, was released in 2018.